Amour au Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

It's been three days since Valentine's Day and I'm still thinking about love. I had a terrible week last week while I was away on travel, and so it was nice to come home to an early celebration (flowers and champagne, then we went to see Amélie at the Bytown Cinema, then for a 5-course meal at the Brookstreet Hotel). It was fantastic! But at the same time, I was also still entirely exhausted.

I've been traveling for work for a long time, off an on for about 4 years. It's exhausting, grueling, difficult. Not only because of the physical travel, but also for the kind of work our office does - it's emotionally demanding. Recently I was finding myself constantly tired, irritable, and without much energy. My committments to good work were becoming harder, and my committments to myself about creating more everyday were becoming non-existent. I was consistenly under the weather, with colds and sinus issues.

So. I finally sat down and listened to my self.

Self: I'm so tired! I'm so sick! I'm so sick and tired! Have you not heard me say this every single day for a year? Two years?
Me: I know. It's getting kinda tiring hearing you talk about how tired you are.
Self: I know. It's really getting old.
Me: Are you saying I'm getting old?
Self: No, I'm saying... oh nevermind. See, your reactions are becoming defensive and snappy. It's time to listen and stop all this travel.
Me: Work's counting on me!
Self: I'm counting on you.
Me: Oh yeah, I forgot about you.
Self: I know.
Me: Oh. Hi. I hear you.

I wasn't listening to the aircraft safety instructions that I hear a hundred times and year - put your own oxygen mask on before you help those around you.

I went and talked to my boss and now I'm taking some time away from traveling. Thank god. I'll be home for the next while, and I'll be able to focus on sleeping well, eating right, exercising, making, and creating. That means I'll be able to focus more on Manusmade and really getting things off the ground. It also means I'll be more myself as I catch up on my sleep and get healthy - kinder, funnier, and more annoyingly bouncy.

Make sure that your thoughts of love take into consideration not just those around you, but you too. Take the time to listen when your body talks, whether that means taking a rest, or energizing yourself through making stuff and exercising. And when the pressure drops, PLEASE, suck in that oxygen!!!